Collection

Chirp! Chirp! These Articles Are for the Birds

To celebrate National Bird Day on Jan. 5, we gathered some of our favorite avian tales.

Liz Donaldson

Published Jan 5, 2022

A flock of barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) on a power line, Seefelden near Unteruhldingen, Lake Constance, Germany ( Westend61 / Getty Images)
A flock of barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) on a power line, Seefelden near Unteruhldingen, Lake Constance, Germany (Image Via Westend61 / Getty Images)

The COVID-19 pandemic may have forced you to work (and play and entertain) at home to stay safe. It may have also given you a new appreciation for our free-flying feathery friends who seem to know no bounds, oblivious to the virus. In honor of National Bird Day on Jan. 5, 2022, we give you a special collection of bird-focused fact checks over the years, with a healthy dose of science and nerd research. Enjoy. And keep looking up!

rice throwing wedding

Is Throwing Rice at Weddings Bad for Birds?

May 14, 2000 An old rumor warns that discarded rice eaten by birds can expand in their tiny birdy stomachs an ...
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The Tale of the Bird Foot Exam

Feb 11, 2001 Responding to your college professor with a one-liner might not get you an A on an exam, but it ...
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Person, Human, Hat

Bird Watchers Call Each Other

Jun 30, 2001 Bird watchers call to each other, thinking they're attracting a rare bird.
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Mandarin duck

Is This Colorful Bird Real?

Apr 11, 2021 Some things may be of divine origin, but others are purely digital creations.
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Plant, Grass, Flower

Does This Video Show Hummingbird Helping Another Bird?

Apr 25, 2021 The bedazzled birds are notoriously territorial.
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A video of a hummingbird "slapping" a bee in slow motion is frequently shared on social media.

Watch a Hummingbird Slap a Bee in Slow Motion

Jun 17, 2021 The fiery throated hummingbird beats its wings close to 100 times per second.
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Is This a Photo of a Zunzuncito, the World's Smallest Bird?

Dec 17, 2019 The world's smallest bird weighs less than a dime.
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smiling birds and sun

Is This 'Smiling' Sun with 'Smiling' Birds Photo Real?

Aug 30, 2016 A photograph seemingly captured three birds flying in a 'smile' formation in the sky with a 'smi ...
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Is the 'Haiku Bird' a Real Creature?

Apr 8, 2019 Internet advertisers claimed the "haiku bird to be one of "20 Animals That Are Real and Dangerous."
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Will Baby Birds Be Rejected by Their Mother If You Handle Them?

Aug 27, 2001 This widespread caution against handling young birds may have sprung from a desire to protect them.
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Bird, Animal, Pigeon

Why Do Pigeons Bob Their Heads When Walking?

Jul 3, 2021 Scientists in the 1970s literally walked pigeons on treadmills to find out.
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Bird, Animal, Cardinal

Does This Photo Show Half-Male, Half-Female Cardinal?

Feb 26, 2021 In theory, such a bird would also be able to both lay and fertilize eggs.
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Is This a Photograph of a Rainbow Owl?

Mar 26, 2012 Nature offers many colorful surprises. Is this one of them?
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Goose, Bird, Animal

Mother Bird Sacrifices Herself

Jan 13, 2001 Did a mother bird sacrifice herself to protect her chicks from a forest fire?
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Is This Red Owl With Blue Eyes Real?

Nov 2, 2015 A photograph purportedly showing a rare red owl with blue eyes is just the latest in digital owl ...
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birds aren't real

What Is the 'Birds Aren't Real' Movement?

Nov 22, 2021 The movement's spokesman insists it's not satire.
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By Liz Donaldson

Liz is an Editorial Assistant who has labored in Snopes' folklore mines since 2005.